Part-time Employment: Females

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to increase the availability of high quality part-time work for women.

Meg Munn: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The Government are working closely with employers from both the public and private sector to open up more quality jobs on a part-time basis. On the 2 April we announced the projects awarded funding from a £500,000 quality part-time work initiative. This is a new initiative by Communities and Local Government which is designed to support projects across the UK that increase the number of senior and quality jobs that are available part-time.
	The 13 successful projects include transforming big organisations, working with young people to create awareness of quality part-time working, setting up a national job-share register, and opening up part-time opportunities for senior women investigators in the police force. All projects are required to have good arrangements for disseminating the lessons learned to other employers and we believe they can have a real impact.

National Lottery: Arts Council of Wales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery-funded money is yet to be allocated by the Arts Council of Wales; and what that figure was in August 2006.

Richard Caborn: The Arts Council of Wales provides my Department with data on the level of unpaid commitments at the final day of each quarter of the financial year. The closest figure to August 2006 that we have available is September 2006.
	On 30 September 2006 the Arts Council of Wales balance in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) was £18,501,937. Its forward commitments including both contractually binding and 'in principle' commitments totalled £22,309,580. It was therefore overcommitted on its NLDF balance by £3,807,643.
	On 31 March 2007 the Arts Council of Wales balance was £16,625,562. Its forward commitments, including both contractually binding and 'in principle' commitments totalled £18,001,516. It was therefore overcommitted by £1,375,954.

Sports: Sponsorship

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on the sponsorship of sports events and competitions involving children by commercial organisations that produce food and drink products that are high in fat, salt and sugar.

Richard Caborn: Neither my Department nor Sport England provide specific guidance on the sponsorship of sports events and competitions involving children by commercial organisations.
	However, the Public Health White Paper Choosing Health, published in November 2004, sets out the Government's commitment to help people lead healthier and more active lives. In particular, my Department shares with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills a Public Service Agreement target to
	"halt the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 by 2010, in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole".
	In line with its corporate social responsibility, the food industry is an important partner in our cross-Government programme of work to achieve this.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methods other than financial incentives are being used to improve recruitment and retention in the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: All three services undertake numerous and varied initiatives, both at national and local level, aimed at sustaining and increasing the level of recruitment to the armed forces. Included among the many current initiatives are:
	The use of multi-media advertising campaigns.
	Services' recruiting teams' attendance at schools, careers fairs and graduate recruitment seminars, road shows, exhibitions, youth clubs and organisations.
	Specialist teams to attract doctors, dentists, nurses, lawyers and padres by promoting service careers within specialist recruitment shows and through professional bodies.
	Work experience placements within service establishments.
	Personal development courses and look at life courses for young people who express an interest in the armed forces.
	Taster day visits to HM ships and service establishments.
	A dedicated careers website for each of the services complete with a dedicated information support call centre.
	An Army 'on-line' recruiting office, with plans for this to be replicated by the other services.
	Specialist ethnic minority recruiting and diversity action teams aimed at promoting Armed forces careers among the UK's ethnic minority and faith communities.
	A partnership with Jobcentre Plus, making use of its network (totalling in excess of 1,100) of local outlets. As a measurement of the success of this partnership, in financial year 2005-06 some 1,200 referrals went on to become enlistments.
	Taken across the armed forces, retention is generally satisfactory. Nevertheless in some areas, exit rates are still too high and require us to work hard at retaining people in these areas. Retention measures such as:
	Initiatives to improve work/life balance include proposals such as allowing personnel to work flexibly where it is operationally possible to do so and where personnel have reached a certain state in their careers.
	Within the naval services, the re-balancing lives initiative (RBL) seeks to improve the work/life balance of our people.
	The future Army structure will lengthen tour intervals, improve career development and effectiveness of our soldiers and, with more robust structures, the quality of life for them and their families. The whole Army will be on a system of individual postings, which together with other linked initiatives will improve stability for Army personnel and their families.
	The RAF continues to explore the scope to allow greater employment flexibility and achievement of work/life balance aspirations, which might help improve the recruitment and retention of its personnel, including: flexible working hours, job share, career breaks, sabbaticals and secondments, greater family stability. Recent improvements have been made to the operational welfare package, the aim of which is to maintain the strength and morale of service personnel in order to optimise and maintain effectiveness. It does so by providing support for the physical and emotional well-being of service personnel deployed on operations. Recent improvements to the package include an increase in the free weekly telephone calls from 20 to 30 minutes and a tax bonus. Other benefits of the package include free e-mails facility, free "blueys" (mail), free packages from families to personnel of up to 2 kg over the Christmas period and up to 14 days rest and recuperation break during a six month tour.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have worked in field hospitals during Operation Telic; and what percentage of the total number were reservist medical personnel.

Derek Twigg: From the start of Op Telic in January 2003 to Op Telic 9 at the end of April 2007, 2,887 individual medical specialist and non-medical support personnel have served in field hospitals in Iraq, of which some 43 per cent were reservists.
	The number of service personnel who have worked in Op Telic field hospitals is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  (a) Service  (b) Tour  (c) Unit  (d) Total( 1)  (e) Reservists( 2)  (f) Percentage reservist 
			 1 Op Telic (and Telic 2)(3)(, 4) 22 Fd Hosp 90 0 0 
			 2  33 Fd Hosp 560 4 1 
			 3 — 34 Fd Hosp 650 275 42 
			 4 — 202 Fd Hosp 680 523 77 
			   
			 5 Op Telic 3(5) Hosp Sqn 22 Fd Hosp 120 44 37 
			   
			 6 Op Telic 4 Hosp Sqn 207 Fd Hosp 127 117 92 
			 7 Op Telic 4a Hosp Sqn 256 Fd Hosp 127 108 85 
			 8 Op Telic 5 Hosp Sqn 33 Fd Hosp 116 37 32 
			 9 Op Telic 6 Hosp Sqn 205 Fd Hosp 119 92 77 
			 10 Op Telic 7 Hosp Sqn 34 Fd Hosp 112 26 23 
			 11 Op Telic 8 RAF Composite Hosp Sqn 96 3 3 
			 12 Op Telic 9 Hosp Sqn 33 Fd Hosp 90 8 9 
			   Total 2,887 1,237 43 
			 (1) Includes personnel from all services (regular and reserve). (2) Includes Reservists from RN, Army and RAF, but take no account of tour length or multiple tours by individuals. (3) Availability of data for Telic 1 and 2 are limited. These figures are based on information supplied by personnel serving in the Command Team of the units at the time. This information has been provided on a 'best estimate' basis. (4) The Op Telic numbering system relates to a period of time, which is approximately 6 months. (5 )Includes total liability of the Op Telic Hospital Sqn only and does not include other elms of UK Med Gp.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Michael Mates: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of friendly fire have occurred since the coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003.

Des Browne: holding answer 27 March 2007
	 The number of friendly fire incidents in Iraq since 2003 is not held centrally. Friendly fire incidents could be Multinational Forces (MNF) on MNF, MNF on Iraqi Security Force (ISF) or ISF on MNF. Recorded instances of these incidents could only be aggregated from individual records, some of which we would have to request from coalition partners and the Iraqi security forces. This could only be done at disproportionate cost.
	However, eight UK service personnel have died as a result of actual or suspected friendly fire incidents in Iraq since the start of Op. Telic.

Royal Military Academy: Health Services

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many presentations were made to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst by private health providers between March 2006 and March 2007.

Derek Twigg: Three presentations were made by BUPA; one to each new intake to the Regular Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in May 2006, September 2006 and January 2007.

Departments: Computers

John Spellar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what  (a) instructions are issued to staff in his Department and  (b) technical procedures are in place to shut down computers at night.

John Prescott: My Office is based in a Cabinet Office building, and I therefore refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, North and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 27 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1329W.

Departments: Internet

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for which Government websites he is responsible; how many visitors each received in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost  (a) was of establishing and  (b) has been of maintaining each site.

John Prescott: Subsequent to my answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 14 December 2006,  Official Report , column 1304W, in the period January to April 2007 my Department's website recorded 18,179 separate visits and 39,311 page views.
	For details of costs, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and for Social Exclusion and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Hilary Armstrong) on 4 September 2006,  Official Report , column 1721W.

Delivery Unit

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit will play in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Hilary Armstrong: In the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, Prime Minister's Delivery Unit is supporting Her Majesty's Treasury to develop a practical performance monitoring and management system for new PSA targets.

Delivery Unit

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the organisational chart for the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of each of the last 10 reports produced by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit.

Hilary Armstrong: Organisationally, the Unit is headed by Ian Watmore at Permanent Secretary level; three Directors lead on Education and Health; Crime and Justice; and Asylum and Migration and other projects.
	Prime Ministers Delivery Unit's reports comprise confidential policy advice to the Prime Minister and Ministers, and are not published.

Departments: Disclosure of Information

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the date was of each leak inquiry initiated by the Cabinet Office since 1997; which department was concerned in each case; and what leak was being investigated in each case.

Hilary Armstrong: Individual Departments are responsible for initiating leak inquiries relating to material from within their own Departments. The Cabinet Office has conducted 15 leak inquiries since May 1997. It has been the practice of successive governments not to comment on the subject matter of leak inquiries, which might reveal specific techniques or information that could jeopardise future investigations.

Adult Education: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adult learners were studying vocational courses in Copeland in 2005-06.

Bill Rammell: The available figures for numbers of adult learners participating in Further Education in England funded by the Learning and Skills Council are shown in the table. These figures show the numbers by sector subject Area and provided an indication of the numbers on vocational and non-vocational courses. Learners undertake a wide range of courses and it is difficult to classify all courses as either vocational or non-vocational.
	
		
			  Number of adult learners (Aged 19 and Over) from Copeland parliamentary constituency( 1 ) participating in  F urther  E ducation  c ourses in England funded by the Learning and Skills Council by sector subject area for the academic year 2005/06 
			  Sector subject areas  Number of learners 
			 Health, Public Services and Care 550 
			 Science and Mathematics 40 
			 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 10 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 60 
			 Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 50 
			 Information and Communication Technology 400 
			 Retail and Commercial Enterprise 140 
			 Leisure, Travel and Tourism 30 
			 Arts, Media and Publishing 40 
			 History, Philosophy and Theology 40 
			 Social Sciences 0 
			 Languages, Literature and Culture 20 
			 Education and Training 30 
			 Preparation for Life and Work 410 
			 Business, Administration and Law 120 
			 (1 )Based on learner's home postcode 
		
	
	The available figures on the numbers of entrants to undergraduate courses at Higher Education Institutions are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of entrants to undergraduate courses from Copeland parliamentary constituency( 1 ) by age and subject area UK  H igher  Education I nstitutions academic year 2005/06 
			   Age 
			  Subject area  Under 21  21 and Over( 3)  Total 
			 Medicine and Dentistry 0 0 5 
			 Subjects allied to Medicine 30 125 155 
			 Biological Sciences 25 20 40 
			 Veterinary Science 0 0 0 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 5 10 15 
			 Physical Sciences 20 10 30 
			 Mathematical Sciences 5 5 10 
			 Computer Science 25 40 65 
			 Engineering and Technology 30 15 45 
			 Architecture, Building and Planning 5 5 5 
			 Social Studies 35 50 85 
			 Law 10 5 15 
			 Business and Administrative Studies 35 45 80 
			 Mass Communications and Documentation 10 0 10 
			 Languages 15 10 25 
			 Historical and Philosophical Studies 20 20 45 
			 Creative Arts and Design 20 35 55 
			 Education 30 25 55 
			 Combined 30 25 60 
			 Total 355 445 800 
			 (1 )Based on the student's home postcode. (2 )Subject areas are based on the JACS subject classification. (3 )Students aged 21 and over are classed as mature students; there is no definition specifically for adult  Notes: The figures are based on the HESA Standard Registration Population. The figures are rounded to the nearest five students and the totals may not be equal to the sum of constituent parts.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Asperger's Syndrome

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome have statements of special educational needs.

Parmjit Dhanda: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools ( 1) : Number and percentage of pupils with autistic spectrum disorder who have a statement of SEN ( 2,3)( ) As at January 2007 (Provisional)—England 
			   Number ( 5) Percentage 
			 Primary Schools (4) 11,560 18.8 
			 Secondary Schools (4) 7,990 11.5 
			 All Special Schools (1) 12,380 14.2 
			 Total 31,930 14.6 
			 (1) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes General Hospital Schools. (2) Pupils with statements of SEN provided information on their primary need and, if appropriate, their secondary need. Information on primary need only is given here. (3) Excludes dually registered pupils. (4) Includes middle schools as deemed. (5) Number of pupils by their main need expressed as a percentage of all pupils with statements of SEN.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census 
		
	
	The Department collects information on pupils' primary and, if appropriate, their secondary need. Asperger's Syndrome falls within the category Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Class Sizes: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class sizes in Copeland  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools were in financial year (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2006-07.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools ( 1) : average class size ( 2) 1997 and 2006, p osition in January each year 
			   Copeland parliamentary constituency  England 
			   Primary  Secondary  Primary  Secondary 
			 1997 26.2 21.2 27.5 21.7 
			 2006 25.5 20.5 26.3 21.5 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Classes taught by one teacher during a single selected period on the Census day in January.  Source:  School Census

Departmental Publications

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the report commissioned by his Department entitled, 'Getting It. Getting It Right'; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department published "Getting It, Getting It Right", a priority review on black pupil exclusions on 2 March 2007. The report is available in the House of Commons Library and at
	www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ethnicminorities.

Diplomas for England

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Diplomas for England are recognised by universities and colleges as entry qualifications; and whether agreement has been reached with those institutions.

Jim Knight: All Diplomas at Level 3 are being designed to give progression routes into Higher Education including Honours Degrees. Higher Education Institutions are members of the Diploma Development Partnerships developing the qualifications and are participating in the Local Consortia which will be delivering the Diplomas. Four champions have agreed to promote the Diplomas, two from the HE sector. Deian Hopkin, Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University and Michael Arthur, Vice Chancellor, Leeds University are working to raise awareness and improve understanding of the reforms across the HE sector.
	A Higher Education Engagement Project Board with representation from each of the university groupings within the HE sector and FE has been set up to promote an understanding of the 14-19 reforms and to encourage the HE and FE sector to become involved in Diplomas. Diplomas have received 'in principle' support from most HEIs. We do not expect HEIs to confirm their support until they have had the opportunity to see the content of the Diplomas in detail. The Board is also supporting a number of projects to map the Level 3 Diploma curricula against degree courses and to illustrate progression pathways as well as working with UCAS to determine an appropriate point score.

English Language

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people are on the waiting list for English for Speakers of Other Languages in  (a) England and  (b) each London borough.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 16 April 2007
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is not required to collect waiting list data, and as such does not ask that all providers maintain such lists. Some providers will maintain their own lists and local LSC partnership and regional LSC teams sometimes review these individual lists. We are therefore unable to provide the number of people on waiting lists nationally.
	Anecdotal evidence, further supported by the recent Race Equality Impact Assessment indicate that waiting lists in parts of the country are as much as two years in London and 18 months elsewhere.

Further Education: Construction

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Learning and Skills Council has to work with the Building Research Establishment on a methodology for the environmental assessment of capital development projects in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The Learning and Skills Council and Building Research Establishment (BRE) have recently agreed proposals for BRE to develop a dedicated Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) which will simplify the basis upon which FE colleges can obtain environmental assessments for their capital projects. These new arrangements should be operational by the early autumn. Colleges will be able to use BREEAM rather than commissioning individual assessments, which will bring the assessment cost down significantly from an average of £25,000 to £2-3,000 per project.

GCSE: Standards

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have more than 50 per cent. of pupils receiving free school meals; and how many and what proportion of pupils in those schools did not achieve  (a) five A* to C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics,  (b) five A* to G grades at GCSE and  (c) any GCSEs in the last school year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: In 2005/06, 181 schools had more than 50 per cent. of pupils receiving free school meals. The figures(1,2) requested for these schools are given in the table.
	(1) Includes those schools with results published in the Achievement and Attainment tables.
	(2) Includes all maintained schools. Independent schools are not included as this data is not readily available.
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Pupils(1) not achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE(2) including English and Mathematics GCSE 10,341 74.9 
			 Pupils(1) not achieving 5 A*-G grades at GCSE(2) or equivalent 2,894 21.0 
			 Pupils(1) not achieving any qualification 837 6.1 
			 (1) Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (2) Includes GCSEs and equivalent.

International Education Strategy

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will report recent progress on the implementation proposals for the International Education strategy.

Bill Rammell: Implementation of the International Education Strategy is ongoing and there has been progress recently on a number of fronts. For example, building on the success of the first phase of the Prime Minister's Initiative (PMI) to increase student numbers by 75,000 (which was exceeded ahead of schedule), the Prime Minister last year launched a second phase with even more stretching targets to be achieved by 2011. These include an increase of a further 100,000 international students, to double the number of countries sending more than 10,000 students p.a. to the UK and to see a demonstrable improvement to student satisfaction ratings in the UK.
	We are also making progress against our objectives in multilateral fora. Within the European Union, for example, we are working with other member states and the Commission to develop the role of education and skills in achieving the Lisbon goals of jobs and growth. At the EU Education Council of November 2006, a UK-driven proposal for a compendium of good practice on Higher Education won widespread support. The Commission and member states are taking forward this proposal within the framework of the EU Peer Learning Cluster on Modernizing Higher Education.
	The Department remains committed to the implementation of actions under the International Strategy.

Physical Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the amount of time scheduled for PE and sport during the school day that is taken up by changing; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This data has not been collected centrally. The guidance that accompanied the 2005/06 School Sport Survey advised schools that 'curriculum time' was the total time provided for PE lessons during the school day. This included changing time but not travelling time.

Physical Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what advice his Department has issued to  (a) schools and  (b) school sports co-ordinators on the collection of data on the number of school children who take part in a minimum of two hours of PE or sport in school time; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  who is responsible for  (a) supplying,  (b) compiling and  (c) verifying the data on the number of school children who take part in a minimum of two hours of PE or sport in school time each week; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department has commissioned TNS, an independent research company, to conduct the annual school sport surveys. Data is supplied by schools and partnership development managers and complied by TNS. A validation exercise is carried out by TNS.
	A copy of the 2005-06 school sport survey guidance has been placed in the House Library.

Physical Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of PE lessons cancelled each year as a result of  (a) examinations,  (b) exam preparation,  (c) poor weather and  (d) facility use clashes; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This data has not been collected centrally. Schools have a duty to teach the full programmes of study set out in the PE national curriculum to all pupils. It is for them to decide how they arrange the timetable to achieve this.

Public Service Agreements

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which statistics are used to determine whether his Department's public service agreement (PSA) targets have been met, broken down by PSA target; and which of these are classified as national statistics.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 15 January 2007
	 The Department for Education and Skills public service agreement incorporates technical notes which contain information about the statistics used to monitor progress towards meeting the Department's PSA targets. The Agreement can be accessed using the following URL:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/SR2004/PSA/
	A report by the independent Statistics Commission entitled 'PSA Targets: the Devil in the Detail,' which was published on 20 March 2006, contains an independent analysis of each Department's PSA targets. Copies of that report are available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed using the following URL:
	http://www.statscom.org.Uk/C_467.aspx

Pupils: Intimidation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 on schools' policies on bullying;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the Education and Skills Select Committee's recent recommendations to require schools to record all incidents of bullying together with details about the type of bullying;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the merits of issuing non-compulsory guidelines for schools on drawing-up policies against specific types of bullying.

Jim Knight: The Department has not carried out a specific assessment of the impact of the Sexual Orientation Regulations on schools' bullying policies. However, the Regulations will ensure schools tackle homophobic bullying as seriously as other forms of bullying. We will clarify how the Regulations apply to school bullying policies in our forthcoming guidance "Preventing and Responding to Homophobic Bullying".
	We are currently considering all the Education and Skills Select Committee's recommendations, including that to require schools to record all incidents of bullying, and will issue a formal response very soon.
	On the merits of issuing non-compulsory guidelines for schools, head teachers are under a statutory duty to determine measures to prevent all forms of bullying. The Department took a deliberate decision not to make its anti-bullying guidance statutory, or for that matter legally require schools to sign up to the Anti-Bullying Charter. We believe it is better to work with schools to encourage them to take ownership of their policies, and to tailor them to their own needs and circumstances. We recommend that, as best practice, schools consult the entire school community, including parents and pupils, in drawing up their behaviour policies, and indeed they are now under a legal requirement to do so under the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
	Ofsted reported in 2003 that most schools make good use of DfES anti-bullying guidance, and use the materials to raise staff awareness, revisit anti-bullying policies and strengthen their procedures. Our current over-arching guidance to schools on tackling bullying, "Don't Suffer in Silence" was externally evaluated by researchers from Goldsmiths College London in 2003, who found that the pack met schools' expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.

Schools: Combined Heat and Power

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with  (a) manufacturers,  (b) suppliers and  (c) installers of roof-mounted microgeneration technologies for the Eco-Schools programme;
	(2)  what plans he has to encourage the awarding of contracts to accredited or TrustMark affiliated contractors for the Eco-Schools programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with representatives of the roofing industry on the construction of eco-friendly roofs as part of the Eco-Schools programme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Your questions refer to an 'Eco-Schools' programme.
	The only Eco-Schools programme that we are aware of is one for existing schools which results in three levels of award to acknowledge increasing levels of pupil involvement in a range of environmental issues. The Department is not involved in running this Eco-Schools programme(1.)
	The Department and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have, however, been involved in discussions with manufacturers, suppliers and installers of roof-mounted microgeneration technologies. The DTI has also recently made grant funding available for the installation of these technologies in existing schools within the Low Carbon Buildings Programme(2). In addition, it is already a requirement of Building Regulations that all new school buildings over 1000 m(2) in area should consider the use of rmicrogeneration and some regional and local planning policies require new schools of this size to install on-site renewable energy to supply a proportion (typically 10 per cent.) of the predicted building's energy load. Furthermore, on 10 April this year the Secretary of State for Education announced that:
	"We're already rebuilding and refurbishing every Secondary School in the country and, as part of this programme, we will put £110 million over the next three years to test a bold aim—even higher standards for new and refurbished schools to reduce their carbon emissions, in some cases up to carbon neutrality."
	DfES has made it a condition of funding for our capital programmes that 'BREEAM Schools(3)' assessments are carried out for all major new and refurbishment projects above a certain size. 'BREEAM Schools' awards credits for good environmental practices of contractors and good environmental performance of building elements, including roofs. DfES and CIRIA have also recently produced a guide 'Sustainable Water Management in Schools' which encourages designers to use eco-friendly roofs to harvest rainwater.
	(1 )www.eco-schools.org.uk
	(2 )http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/micro/
	(3 )http//www.breeam.org/schools.html

Science: Publicity

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial support his Department gives to  (a) science centres and  (b) other projects which (i) promote (A) science, (B) engineering and (C) technology to the general public and (ii) are involved in adding value to the teaching of those subjects in schools.

Jim Knight: The Department provided £1 million, as part of a £2 million joint DfES/DTI funding package, to science centres in 2004-06 to help alleviate short term funding problems.
	Since then the Department has paid a further £250,000, as part of a £750,000 joint DfES/DTI funding package over the period 2006-08, for ECSITE-UK to work with the science centres to:
	demonstrate their impact and the added-value they deliver;
	encourage the centres to work more effectively together, and collaboratively with museums, SETNET, Science Learning Centres and Science Cities; and,
	maximise their future financial viability.
	The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Programme Report, published in October 2006, arose from the recommendations of the 2004 STEM Mapping Review. Its aim is to bring coherence and co-ordination to the many initiatives identified during the review, and to address any gaps in policy. The programme is working to reinforce the priorities set out in the Government's 'Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-14: Next Steps' DfES funded projects that promote science, engineering and technology to the general public, or are involved in adding value to the teaching of those subjects in schools include:
	a £51 million partnership with the Wellcome Trust to set up a national network of Science Learning Centres providing professional development for science teachers and technicians
	a £5 million initiative to pilot 250 after school science and engineering clubs offering an engaging and stretching programme of activities to Key Stage 3 pupils with interest and potential in science.
	more than £2 million to the CADCAM programme, managed by the Design and Technology Association, which provides training and support for teachers to use industrial design software in secondary schools. An estimated £10million worth of software has been donated to UK schools by software companies
	£125,000 support to the Engineering Education scheme, run by the Engineering Development Trust, working with young people to increase the number of students experiencing the benefits of engineering, science and technology.
	increasing the value of the teacher training bursary for science graduates to £9,000 and increasing the 'Golden Hello' for new science teachers to £5,000 for trainees entering PGCE and equivalent courses.
	implementing the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body on improving the use of current pay incentives and flexibilities to improve the recruitment, retention and quality of science teachers.
	introducing a new statutory entitlement for all students to study science courses leading to at least two GCSEs, to come into effect from September 2007.
	making GCSEs in the individual sciences of physics, chemistry and biology accessible to all pupils achieving at least level 6 or above at Key Stage 3, from September 2008.
	reviewing the secondary curriculum to make it more manageable and focus on the key conceptual underpinnings of science, as well as its excitement and relevance. The revised Key Stage 3 science curriculum will be introduced into schools for first teaching from September 2008.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what  (a) professional development and  (b) technical assistance the Department plans to provide to schools for the implementation of the secondary curriculum review's findings.

Jim Knight: We are developing a comprehensive package of communications, training and support for teachers, subject leaders and head teachers. This will be delivered both face to face and online by a range of partners, including the professional subject associations, National Strategies and the National College of School Leadership.
	Professional development will begin in June and July, with nine high-level regional events run by the QCA for local authorities, school leaders, deputies and curriculum managers. These will be followed up by a series of DfES events in the autumn which will set the new curriculum in the context of wider changes, 11-19, and explain what schools need to do next and what support is available.
	In September 2007, the QCA will launch a new website for the revised secondary curriculum which will enable teachers, deputy heads and curriculum managers to link areas of learning across subjects. It will provide cross-references to information outside the curriculum and offer a wide range of supporting material in easily accessible ways.
	As well as the revised Programmes of Study, the website will include information about the curriculum aims; inclusion; personal development and skills across all subjects. Teachers will be able to use interactive features to track areas of learning such as sustainability; diversity; enterprise and creativity across the curriculum and there will be on-line support for curriculum planning and assessment. Throughout the site, there will be links to explanatory text, supporting guidance, teaching materials and case studies.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1575W, 
	(1)  on secondary education: curriculum, what the main principles of effective teaching identified by the review of research into effective teaching carried out in the preparation of the secondary curriculum review were;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1575W, on secondary education: curriculum, whether the Qualification and Curriculum Authority has established causal links between the principles of effective teaching it has identified and cognitive outcomes;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1575W, on secondary education: curriculum, what documents containing evidence on the principles of effective teaching were taken into consideration by the Qualification and Curriculum Authority in the preparation of the secondary curriculum review  (a) programmes of study and  (b) supporting guidance.

Jim Knight: In preparing for the secondary curriculum review the QCA considered evidence from research and reports into effective teaching produced by Ofsted; various specialist subject and professional associations; national agencies, such as national strategies; and others. Documents containing evidence on the principles of effective teaching are available on the websites of each of these organisations.
	In the answer of 1 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1575W, on secondary education: curriculum; 10 specific principles of effective learning were referenced. The 10 principles are that:
	students learn more when they are engaged actively during an instructional task;
	high success rates (and to a less certain extent, moderate success rates) are correlated positively with student learning outcomes and low success rates are correlated negatively with student learning outcomes;
	increased opportunity to learn content is correlated. positively with increased student achievement. Therefore the more content covered, the greater the potential for student learning;
	students achieve more in classes in which they spend much of their time being directly taught or supervised by their teacher. In general, teacher instructional time that is spent with large groups is correlated positively with student achievement;
	students can become independent, self-regulated learners through instruction that is deliberately and carefully scaffolded;
	the critical forms of knowledge associated with strategic learning are (a) declarative knowledge, (b) procedural knowledge, and (c) conditional knowledge. Each of these must be addressed if students are to become independent, self-regulated learners;
	learning is increased when teaching is presented in a manner that assists students in organising, storing and retrieving knowledge;
	students can become more independent, self-regulated learners through strategic instruction;
	students can become independent, self-regulated learners through instruction that is explicit;
	by teaching sameness both within and across subjects, teachers promote the ability of students to access potentially relevant knowledge in novel problem-solving situations.
	The document containing these principles is entitled Ellis, E.S., Worthington., L. A. and Larkin, MJ. (1996) "Research synthesis on effective teaching principles and the design of quality tools". Worthington National Centre to Improve the Tools of Educators.

Statistics

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the process is for deciding the date of publication of statistics prepared by or relating to the Department; and who is involved in that process.

Jim Knight: The National Statistics Code of Practice (2002)—which serves as a model for all public sector statistical work—established the principle that 'final responsibility for the content, format and timing of release of National Statistics' rests with the Head of Profession for Statistics in each Department. The Head of Profession has published a statement describing how the Department's release practices comply with the Release Practice Protocol. This can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/compliance06.pdf.
	In reaching their decisions, Heads of Profession take into consideration the detailed procedural guidance given in the 'National Statistics Protocol on Release Practices'.
	Copies of the code and its 12 supporting protocols are available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed using the following address:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/national_statistics/cop/default.asp

Statistics

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which statistics released by his Department and its agencies are classified as  (a) national statistics and  (b) official statistics; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 16 January 2007
	 A list of the titles of all of the National Statistics produced by each Department and Agency was placed in the Library of the House on 8 January 2007 to accompany the Second Reading of the Statistics and Registration Bill. An equivalent list was also placed on the National Statistics website. These lists can be accessed using the following URL:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ns_ons/nsproducts/default.asp
	In addition to National Statistics, the Department for Education and Skills publish a wide range of other numerical information in a variety of forms including other data produced from the management and administration of the department and in research reports. There is no centrally held information on the total published.

Young People: Unemployment

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of  (a) 16 year olds,  (b) 17 year olds and  (c) 18 year olds in each local education authority area were not in employment, education or training in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table gives the number and proportion of  (a)16,  (b) 17 and  (c) 18 year olds not in education, employment or training by local authority in England, for December 2005 and 2006.
	Data is drawn from the operational client management systems maintained by Connexions services. It only includes those people known to the service (about 85 per cent. of the population); some young people who attended independent schools or were at school outside England are excluded. The age relates to those of calendar year age 16-18 on the date of measurement. Data is only available at the local authority level from 2005.
	These NEET measures are those used for setting and monitoring local authority NEET targets. The definition differs from that used to measure the national departmental PSA NEET target. Along with not covering the entire population, the Connexions NEET measure excludes those on gap years, those in custody and those undertaking voluntary work. The PSA measure is for academic rather than calendar age 16-18.
	It is estimated that 220,000 (11 per cent.) 16 to 18 year olds were not in education, employment or training (NEET) at the end of 2005. Not all of these young people are out of work—the figures include young people taking a break from study, caring for families, or simply between jobs or courses. Annual surveys carried out on a group of young people at ages 16, 17 and 18 found that nearly 20 per cent. were NEET at one of the three survey dates, while only around 1 per cent. were NEET at each of the three survey points.
	Record numbers of 16 year olds are in full-time education. But, we recognise the need to take action to reduce the proportion of young people not in any form of education, employment or training, and have set ourselves a very challenging target to get the proportion down to 8 per cent. by 2010.
	Our 14-19 reforms are vital: the implementation plan makes commitment to make and offer of learning to every young person after they complete year 11. They also give us the platform for agencies working with young people to plan and develop learning and employment opportunities that meet local needs.
	To keep them in learning, need to help them tackle the other issues in their lives that might cause them to leave which we are doing through our Every Child Matters reforms.
	
		
			  Number and p roportion of 16 to 18 year  olds NEET by local authority as at December 2005 and 2006 
			   Number  Percentage 
			   (a) 16 year olds  (b) 17 year olds  (c) 18 year olds  (a) 16 year olds  (b) 17 year olds  (c) 18 year olds 
			   2005  2006  2005  2006  2005  2006  2005  2006  2005  2006  2005  2006 
			  South East 
			 Bracknell Forest 50 30 100 60 80 80 7.7 4.8 9.1 6.0 7.7 6.5 
			 Reading 140 90 210 160 190 130 11.0 7.2 10.8 8.3 9.2 5.1 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 40 30 70 60 70 50 4.1 4.2 4.8 4.3 5.4 3.9 
			 Slough 100 60 140 90 150 90 10.0 5.8 8.0 5.6 9.0 4.8 
			 West Berkshire 70 60 120 90 90 90 5.6 4.7 6.7 4.9 5.7 6.0 
			 Wokingham 50 40 90 50 80 60 5.8 5.4 6.5 4.3 5.2 5.4 
			 Kent 710 640 1,230 1,140 950 1,190 6.1 5.4 7.0 6.6 5.5 6.9 
			 Medway 190 130 350 290 280 240 7.3 5.0 9.1 7.7 7.6 6.1 
			 Buckinghamshire 100 90 210 160 220 190 2.7 2.4 3.9 2.9 4.4 3.8 
			 Milton Keynes 130 100 220 180 200 180 7.2 5.5 7.8 6.5 7.2 6.2 
			 Oxfordshire 200 230 370 330 320 330 4.4 5.2 5.3 4.6 4.8 4.7 
			 Portsmouth 150 90 220 200 160 180 14.5 9.7 13.8 12.1 7.9 8.8 
			 Southampton 190 180 340 250 190 230 11.4 10.5 13.0 9.9 7.3 8.8 
			 Isle of Wight 70 60 90 100 80 110 6.5 5.6 5.5 6.2 4.9 6.2 
			 Hampshire 580 570 810 850 530 800 5.5 5.4 5.1 5.5 3.4 5.3 
			 Surrey 250 250 410 360 340 310 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.3 3.0 2.9 
			 Brighton and Hove 170 150 290 280 290 290 9.6 9.4 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.8 
			 East Sussex 280 250 450 460 440 490 7.4 6.7 8.1 8.3 8.1 9.1 
			 West Sussex 260 240 440 390 370 420 4.4 3.9 5.0 4.5 4.4 4.9 
			  
			  London 
			 Camden 80 80 180 140 190 160 5.6 7.4 9.7 7.0 10.9 8.1 
			 Islington 120 110 250 210 260 210 7.3 7.7 10.5 8.7 11.7 8.6 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 30 40 70 80 90 80 7.8 7.5 9.3 8.8 10.3 8.0 
			 Lambeth 140 100 300 200 350 210 12.1 11.1 15.3 10.9 17.0 10.1 
			 Southwark 120 120 290 250 320 230 10.7 9.4 15.3 12.9 14.3 11.5 
			 Wandsworth 90 80 180 150 180 160 6.1 5.2 7.2 6.2 6.9 6.2 
			 Westminster 110 50 140 100 130 110 10.3 5.8 8.2 6.6 7.1 7.0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 180 160 290 280 250 290 12.4 9.4 13.4 11.8 11.6 12.3 
			 Bexley 150 140 230 180 220 140 7.7 8.4 8.2 6.7 7.9 5.3 
			 City of London — — — — — 10 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 
			 Greenwich 180 170 350 280 370 360 10.9 10.2 13.1 11.0 12.8 13.1 
			 Hackney 130 120 280 240 330 290 11.7 10.9 17.2 13.3 18.8 13.1 
			 Havering 150 130 270 230 200 200 7.0 5.5 7.9 6.4 5.8 5.5 
			 Lewisham 140 60 260 190 260 230 7.9 3.7 10.0 6.8 9.0 8.0 
			 Newham 210 210 360 360 310 380 9.5 10.2 10.6 11.1 9.1 11.0 
			 Redbridge 130 90 200 180 230 180 5.7 3.8 6.3 5.1 6.8 5.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 150 130 300 280 410 290 9.1 7.9 11.4 12.0 15.2 12.6 
			 Barnet 120 120 210 160 260 230 5.3 4.6 5.9 3.8 7.0 5.5 
			 Enfield 180 140 320 250 320 300 7.3 5.7 8.5 6.6 8.3 7.8 
			 Haringey 140 130 270 230 290 270 9.0 11.4 11.5 12.2 11.8 12.5 
			 Waltham Forest 100 120 230 230 200 170 4.9 5.3 6.8 7.1 6.1 5.9 
			 Bromley 90 100 210 190 190 200 3.7 4.1 5.5 5.0 5.5 5.2 
			 Croydon 210 170 370 310 340 350 8.4 6.8 9.6 8.3 9.1 8.8 
			 Kingston 40 30 70 80 80 70 2.9 2.2 3.7 4.0 3.9 3.4 
			 Merton 60 40 80 80 80 70 8.8 6.5 7.2 7.5 6.5 5.5 
			 Richmond 40 30 50 60 60 50 4.8 4.2 3.9 4.7 3.5 3.8 
			 Sutton 70 70 150 120 150 140 4.1 4.2 5.5 4.6 6.1 5.3 
			 Brent 60 60 140 140 160 230 3.5 4.8 5.0 5.5 5.7 8.3 
			 Ealing 100 100 210 180 200 220 6.8 7.0 8.2 7.9 7.4 8.2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 130 50 170 120 170 130 22.9 7.2 15.8 9.8 13.4 8.8 
			 Harrow 80 40 140 130 150 170 5.1 2.5 5.4 5.2 5.8 6.5 
			 Hillingdon 180 140 350 220 280 340 8.6 6.3 8.5 6.3 7.5 8.2 
			 Hounslow 110 100 200 210 230 270 5.8 6.5 6.7 7.9 8.6 8.9 
			  
			  East of England 
			 Bedfordshire 210 190 340 310 360 360 6.6 6.0 7.0 6.5 7.7 7.5 
			 Luton 100 100 240 210 260 280 6.2 6.4 8.9 8.9 9.7 10.9 
			 Cambridgeshire 220 200 350 340 370 330 5.1 4.8 5.6 5.3 6.2 5.2 
			 Peterborough 140 110 270 230 260 270 8.8 6.4 10.7 9.1 11.2 11.6 
			 Essex 850 610 1,360 1,120 1,240 1,130 8.2 5.7 8.8 7.3 8.0 7.1 
			 Thurrock 140 90 200 180 180 160 9.1 6.0 9.2 8.1 8.7 8.0 
			 Southend 120 100 230 210 200 220 6.2 5.2 8.3 7.1 8.7 8.4 
			 Hertfordshire 420 360 700 590 620 640 4.6 3.9 5.0 4.3 4.8 4.8 
			 Norfolk 410 470 750 770 710 790 6.6 7.1 7.9 8.0 7.8 8.3 
			 Suffolk 370 370 670 650 690 710 6.9 6.9 8.3 8.2 9.0 9.0 
			  
			  South West 
			 Bournemouth 90 110 150 140 110 140 8.0 9.2 9.4 8.0 6.5 8.1 
			 Dorset 170 200 240 290 240 280 6.0 6.5 5.8 6.8 6.1 7.0 
			 Poole 60 90 120 90 100 90 5.2 7.2 7.4 5.2 5.8 5.3 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 280 230 430 400 470 460 6.4 5.1 6.6 6.1 7.6 7.3 
			 Devon 310 300 520 530 440 450 5.8 5.2 6.5 6.5 5.7 5.8 
			 Plymouth 180 140 310 270 300 280 7.4 6.2 8.3 7.4 7.7 7.5 
			 Torbay 60 80 110 130 100 100 5.1 7.2 5.9 7.4 6.0 5.6 
			 Gloucestershire 240 210 460 360 510 380 4.8 4.3 6.0 4.8 6.9 5.2 
			 Somerset 220 180 360 300 290 260 5.3 4.3 5.7 4.9 4.8 4.6 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 70 50 120 100 120 120 4.9 3.4 5.5 4.1 5.8 4.6 
			 Bristol 200 180 450 350 370 410 7.9 6.0 10.9 7.6 8.5 8.8 
			 North Somerset 60 60 100 90 110 100 4.5 4.4 4.4 5.0 5.3 5.0 
			 South Gloucestershire 110 90 180 150 150 140 5.2 5.6 5.7 5.9 4.9 5.0 
			 Swindon 90 140 190 210 130 230 5.5 7.8 7.3 8.0 5.1 8.3 
			 Wiltshire 180 210 250 270 210 240 6.1 6.5 5.9 5.9 4.9 5.1 
			  
			  West Midlands 
			 Birmingham 980 780 1,690 1,460 1,880 1,630 12.4 8.4 13.9 11.4 15.4 13.4 
			 Solihull 200 150 310 260 370 260 8.2 7.4 8.4 7.9 10.5 7.7 
			 Dudley 260 220 340 340 320 270 9.0 6.3 8.3 6.5 7.7 6.0 
			 Sandwell 310 230 400 470 330 440 12.9 13.5 11.3 18.5 8.5 14.5 
			 Walsall 240 190 400 350 320 320 10.6 8.0 11.3 9.8 9.1 9.0 
			 Wolverhampton 210 210 430 380 370 340 10.0 10.0 12.6 11.6 10.8 9.9 
			 Coventry 200 190 390 360 390 380 7.1 6.7 9.5 8.7 9.4 9.5 
			 Warwickshire 250 280 400 440 370 450 5.8 6.2 6.3 6.8 6.1 7.2 
			 Herefordshire 70 70 170 100 140 120 5.1 4.9 8.3 5.3 7.3 5.9 
			 Worcestershire 250 180 430 350 390 340 5.8 4.1 6.8 5.6 6.6 5.6 
			 Shropshire 120 80 190 180 160 170 5.4 3.8 6.0 5.4 5.1 5.3 
			 Telford and Wrekin 120 130 180 200 210 200 8.4 8.7 8.2 9.2 9.8 9.1 
			 Staffordshire 410 390 710 730 770 890 6.1 5.7 7.1 7.2 8.0 8.8 
			 Stoke on Trent 270 230 530 530 550 610 12.9 11.1 15.5 15.9 16.7 17.7 
			  
			  East Midlands 
			 Derby 190 150 340 310 310 240 8.5 7.0 10.3 9.5 9.6 7.8 
			 Derbyshire 370 330 660 540 620 560 7.4 6.2 8.6 6.9 7.8 7.2 
			 Leicester 270 260 540 480 440 500 9.2 9.0 12.1 10.6 10.0 10.9 
			 Leicestershire 300 280 470 390 410 390 6.2 5.4 6.7 5.4 5.8 5.6 
			 Lincolnshire 320 260 510 450 450 460 5.7 4.5 6.1 5.3 5.8 5.6 
			 Rutland — 10 — — — — 0.5 4.5 0.9 1.8 1.3 1.7 
			 Northamptonshire 400 310 660 530 710 550 7.1 5.5 7.9 6.3 8.8 6.7 
			 Nottinghamshire 330 290 480 480 430 460 5.0 4.6 4.9 5.1 4.5 5.0 
			 Nottingham 190 200 350 340 370 380 7.9 6.9 9.8 7.6 10.2 8.8 
			  
			  Yorks and The Humber 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 100 130 210 250 190 220 5.1 4.6 6.1 6.0 5.7 5.5 
			 Kingston upon Hull 270 240 570 500 620 550 11.5 10.5 13.6 14.6 14.4 14.8 
			 North East Lincolnshire 120 140 260 260 270 220 8.4 8.5 9.9 10.9 10.1 8.5 
			 North Lincolnshire 80 110 200 210 210 240 5.5 7.6 8.4 9.2 9.0 10.0 
			 Barnsley 240 190 410 340 320 370 13.3 10.1 14.7 13.2 11.5 12.8 
			 Doncaster 330 310 500 480 400 370 12.8 11.9 12.6 12.7 10.0 9.7 
			 Rotherham 250 270 400 430 320 420 9.9 9.6 10.6 10.9 8.8 11.5 
			 Sheffield 390 320 680 620 680 680 9.7 8.3 10.8 10.3 10.8 11.2 
			 Bradford 370 380 690 630 740 540 9.5 9.6 11.4 10.5 11.9 9.0 
			 Calderdale 110 120 260 210 270 300 6.3 7.5 10.3 8.9 10.5 11.9 
			 Kirklees 310 290 530 520 580 620 8.3 7.7 9.4 9.6 10.5 11.6 
			 Leeds 570 510 970 880 950 820 9.3 8.4 10.5 9.8 10.5 9.3 
			 Wakefield 350 290 550 520 380 380 12.6 10.0 13.1 11.8 9.3 8.7 
			 York 90 100 140 140 130 140 4.8 5.0 5.1 5.0 5.5 5.8 
			 North Yorkshire 190 190 360 290 300 320 4.1 4.0 5.2 4.2 4.8 4.8 
			  
			  North West 
			 Cheshire 330 290 470 490 460 430 5.6 5.0 5.4 5.6 5.5 5.0 
			 Warrington 120 90 200 180 190 170 6.6 5.6 7.8 7.4 7.6 7.1 
			 Cumbria 220 200 390 300 470 400 5.4 4.6 6.4 4.8 7.8 6.8 
			 Bolton 270 300 450 440 390 440 10.3 13.8 11.4 13.3 10.0 11.8 
			 Bury 130 140 220 210 200 190 7.9 8.5 8.1 8.2 7.8 7.2 
			 City of Manchester 430 390 760 650 640 700 11.3 10.1 12.8 11.5 11.0 11.8 
			 Oldham 160 170 280 280 260 270 7.0 8.3 7.6 8.9 7.3 8.1 
			 Rochdale 190 160 330 290 280 240 10.2 12.3 11.2 13.6 9.5 9.7 
			 Salford 180 180 320 340 210 210 9.4 10.2 11.0 12.7 7.9 7.3 
			 Stockport 140 200 250 280 210 300 6.3 8.5 6.9 8.2 5.9 8.8 
			 Trafford 110 110 190 180 170 180 5.7 6.5 6.3 7.3 5.7 6.8 
			 Tameside 180 170 300 280 230 230 8.4 8.9 9.1 9.7 7.0 7.6 
			 Wigan 280 280 420 440 430 420 10.5 9.9 9.8 10.4 9.6 9.2 
			 Halton 80 110 190 180 220 230 7.6 10.1 11.2 10.9 12.3 13.0 
			 Knowsley 110 130 220 250 320 300 8.1 11.1 10.3 13.4 15.0 14.7 
			 Liverpool 370 370 760 760 880 920 8.9 9.5 11.9 13.4 14.2 15.4 
			 Sefton 170 140 310 300 330 390 6.4 4.9 7.9 7.1 8.6 9.2 
			 St. Helens 160 130 270 250 260 290 11.4 7.4 11.9 9.8 11 .5 11.6 
			 Wirral 180 240 460 420 470 530 6.1 8.1 9.8 9.4 10.5 11.3 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 110 130 260 210 260 250 7.9 5.4 11 .6 6.6 11.5 8.6 
			 Blackpool 130 140 280 230 210 250 9.4 7.3 14.2 8.7 10.9 10.6 
			 Lancashire 660 630 1,200 1,050 1,100 1,150 6.9 7.0 8.3 7.9 7.8 8.3 
			  
			  North East 
			 Durham 440 410 780 740 880 900 11.8 10.3 13.2 12.7 14.5 14.6 
			 Northumberland 180 170 360 360 400 440 7.5 6.7 9.6 10.2 10.9 11 .9 
			 Darlington 80 60 160 130 130 120 7.6 4.6 9.8 6.9 8.8 7.7 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 160 110 270 220 280 270 9.0 7.5 9.8 9.9 10.2 11.1 
			 Middlesbrough 170 140 350 290 360 450 12.8 9.3 16.4 12.4 16.4 17.9 
			 Hartlepool 80 70 130 160 160 200 9.0 6.9 9.3 12.5 11.9 14.0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 110 130 230 200 250 280 8.2 9.6 10.9 10.4 12.0 14.3 
			 Sunderland 290 250 510 490 570 580 11.8 10.3 13.3 13.2 14.4 15.3 
			 Gateshead 160 140 320 260 330 350 10.6 9.7 13.5 11.7 14.8 14.7 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 250 250 470 410 430 460 9.1 8.2 10.8 9.3 10.1 10.3 
			 North Tyneside 160 140 290 250 260 300 10.3 9.2 12.0 11 .0 10.3 12.8 
			 South Tyneside 120 100 260 200 320 240 10.5 8.2 14.0 11.2 15.7 12.4 
			  Notes: 1. Data provided by Connexions and relate to the young person's actual age at the end of December each year. 2. 16 to 18 year olds in education are counted in the area in which their education establishment is located (except those in HE). 3. 16 to 18 year olds known to be undertaking a gap year, or in custody, are not recorded by Connexions as NEET. 4. The percentage NEET includes an adjustment for young people whose current activity is not known.  Source: Connexions Services

Chester-le-Street Community Hospital

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 956W, on Chester-le-street community hospital, for what reasons her Department was able to inform the office of the hon. Member for North Durham on 6 March that the visit was to take place; and for what reasons her answer did not include the cost of the visit.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 27 April 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 956W. On 7 March County Durham primary care trust (PCT), having been approached by NHS North East, suggested that Secretary of State visit Chester-le-street community hospital. Shortly after that, on the same day, the Department informed the office of the hon. Member for North Durham that the Secretary of State would visit County Durham on 9 March and stated that we would contact the office of the hon. Member for North Durham should the situation change. The Secretary of State confirmed the programme and final details for the visit on 8 March and the PCT was subsequently notified. She undertook the visit on 9 March. The cost of the visit was in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and Travel by Ministers.

Departments: Risk Register

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings of 23 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1192W, on the Department's risk register, if she will place in the Library past copies of the risk register.

Ivan Lewis: As indicated in the previous answer copies of the risk register will not be placed in the Library, as publishing current or past risk registers would inhibit the free and frank exchange of views about significant risks and their management, and inhibit the provision of advice to Ministers.

Hospitals: Finance

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of the research and development budget for London hospitals was reallocated to hospitals in the regions in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what proportion of her Department's research and development budget is allocated to  (a) London and  (b) each of the regions following her recent announcement on biomedical research centres.

Caroline Flint: Allocations from the research and development budget are made on the basis of research activity rather than a regional baste. Details of the allocations made to national health service trusts and other research active NHS organisations over the last three years are published on the Department's website
	www.dh.gov.uk.
	The distribution of the allocations has not varied significantly over this period.
	The Department's implementation of the Government's health research strategy "Best Research for Best Health" will deliver a funding system that is transparent, fair and sustainable and where funding better reflects research and development activity. The creation of Biomedical Research Centres alongside the expansion of national research programmes and the establishment of new funding schemes is one of the ways in which these objectives will be achieved. The transition to the new system will be complete by 2009. Further details are available on the National Institute for Health Research website
	www.nihr.ac.uk

Approved Premises: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many approved premises there are in the Greater London probation area; how many places are available at each establishment; how many assistant managers are employed at each of the approved premises in the Greater London probation area; and how many posts are vacant;
	(2)  how many relief staff are employed at each approved premises in the Greater London probation area;
	(3)  whether staff from private security firms are used to supervise residents in approved premises in the Greater London probation area during the night shift;
	(4)  what the establishment staffing figure is for each approved premise in the Greater London probation area; and how many of those staff posts were vacant on 30 March.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	There are 13 approved premises in London, nine managed by the London Probation Board and four by voluntary sector providers. Collectively they provide a total of 311 bed spaces. The number of beds at each approved premises varies. The largest (Westbourne House) has 41 bed spaces, the smallest (Haling) has 18. In the board-managed sector, there are five assistant managers employed at each approved premises, making a total of 45 in all; seven of those posts are currently vacant. Across the four voluntary-managed premises there are 18 assistant manager posts, of which one is currently vacant.
	London Probation Board has, over the course of many years, built a significant pool of relief staff, who are used across the estate to provide cover for annual leave, sickness and training. All relief staff are CRB checked, required to undertake a 'shadow' shift before commencing their duties, and expected to complete the area's core approved premises training programme. A full list of relief staff is held by the London Probation HR Department, and only staff on the list are offered work. The number employed at each approved premises will vary over-time as dictated by the need for cover. Similarly, each of the voluntary sector providers has a pool of relief staff on which they can draw to cover short-term gaps in staffing.
	The London Probation Board has engaged the services of a private security firm to provide one member of staff at each approved premises between the hours of 9pm and 9am. The security staff work alongside board-employed staff. The board employees act in effect as shift leaders, and are responsible for managing the residents, including enforcement action. They are responsible also for liaison with the standby manager, or the on-call assistant chief officer, in the case of an emergency. The role of the security staff is to provide additional waking cover during the night. Their tasks include CCTV monitoring, undertaking routine patrols of the building, and supporting the board employees in carrying out their duties. None of the voluntary sector providers currently use private security staff.
	The staff establishment at each approved premises managed by the London Probation Board (with the exception of Westbourne House) is as follows:
	one manager
	one deputy manager
	five assistant managers
	two night hostel assistants
	one office manager
	At Westbourne House the establishment is:
	one manager
	two deputy managers
	five assistant managers
	two probation service officers
	four night hostel assistants
	one office manager
	one admin officer
	As at 30 March 2007 there were a total of 14 vacancies, broken down as follows:
	one office manager
	seven assistant managers
	five night hostel assistants
	Across the four voluntary managed premises the staff establishment is:
	four managers
	four deputy managers
	18 assistant managers
	12 night hostel assistants
	three admin officers
	10 domestic staff
	As at 30 March 2007 there are two vacancies:
	assistant manager
	domestic worker

Curfews

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people breached their home detention curfew conditions and were returned to prison in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table gives the number of offenders who breached the conditions of the home detention curfew scheme pursuant to section 255(l)(a) if the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and whose licences were revoked and were recalled to prison.
	
		
			  HDC  r ecalls 2004-06 
			   Breach of curfew 
			 2004 1,719 
			 2005 1,731 
			 2006 1,512

Genetics: Databases

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arrested in each financial year since 1995 who were  (a) under 16,  (b) 16 to 18,  (c) 19 to 21 and  (d) over 21 years at the time of their arrest had their DNA profiles added to the National DNA Database; and how many have subsequently had those profiles removed from the database in each case.

John Reid: The information requested on arrests is not available centrally. Information on arrests held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform is based on aggregated data collected at police force area level covering persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by gender, specific age groups (under 10, 10 to 17,18 to 20, 21 and over and unknown), ethnicity and by main offence group only.
	Available information relating to subject sample profiles added to the National DNA Database in each financial year since 1995 to date by age group is set out in table 1.
	The number of subject sample profiles subsequently removed from the National DNA Database is given in table 2 as follows.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of DNA subject sample profiles added to the National DNA Database in each year from 1995-96 to 2006-07 
			   1995-96  1996-97  1997-198  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01 
			 Under 16 2,507 4,964 7,886 18,764 21,055 47,735 
			 16 to 18 5,977 14,137 20,152 37,696 31,902 59,088 
			 19 to 20 3,923 9,511 12,888 24,395 20,290 37,978 
			 21 and over 21,718 52,968 85,970 152,964 121,761 233,312 
			 Unknown age on load 2 8 13 9 3 6 
			 Total 34,127 81,588 126,909 233,828 195,011 378,119 
		
	
	
		
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Under 16 60,972 55,226 56,033 68,381 87,459 90,919 
			 16 to 18 70,534 62,823 59,403 66,954 86,052 88,522 
			 19 to 20 43,930 38,844 36,911 37,542 49,801 51,005 
			 21 and over 296,445 287,468 279,350 307,393 402,427 437,229 
			 Unknown age on load 15 33 26 16 58 62 
			 Total 471,896 444,394 431,723 480,286 625,797 667,737 
			 Total added 1995-2007 4,171,415 
			  Notes: 1. The data is for subject sample profiles taken by forces in England and Wales only (and includes profiles taken from volunteers). It does not include profiles taken by Scottish forces, the Police Service for Northern Ireland, Guernsey etc. 2. The data gives the age of persons when their profile was loaded to the National DNA Database (NDNAD) in each of the financial years. There are a number of subject sample profiles loaded in each financial year for which the date of birth and also therefore the age on load is unknown. 3. The age figures should be treated with caution as there are some data quality issues relating to the recording of dates of birth on the Police National Computer (PNC) by arresting police officers. Key demographic data such as the DOB data is transferred electronically from the PNC to NDNAD. 4. There are 37,804 subject sample profile records on the database for which there is no record of the financial year when they were loaded to the NDNAD. These records have not been included in the count. 5. The figures given are the numbers of DNA subject sample profiles added to the NDNAD. There are more DNA profiles held on the NDNAD than there are individuals due to DNA samples being taken from some individuals on more than one occasion (i.e. due to replicate sampling). A study into the rate of replication on the NDNAD was first carried out in 2003. Using the rate of replication, it is possible to estimate the number of individuals on the database from the number of profiles. However, as the replication rate before 2003 is unknown, to ensure consistency, the data given is the number of profiles and not individuals. The estimated rate of replication on the database for the years since 2003 is as follows: The estimated replication rate for financial year 2003-04 was 10 per cent. The estimated replication rate for financial year 2004-05 was 10 per cent. The estimated replication rate for financial year 2005-06 was 11 per cent. The estimated replication rate for the end of financial year 2006-07 was 13.7 per cent. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of subject sample profiles removed from the national DNA database 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Under 16 40 5 12 29 22 
			 16 to 18 42 4 7 17 11 
			 19 to 20 28 6 4 8 4 
			 21 and over 146 30 30 111 78 
			 Unknown age on load 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 256 45 53 165 115 
			  Notes: 1. The data is for subject sample profiles taken by forces in England and Wales only. 2. The data shows the number of profiles loaded in each financial year (FY) since 2002-03 to date which have since been deleted in any subsequent year i.e. 256 subject profiles loaded in FY 2002-03 have since been deleted in the period between 2002-03 and 31 March 2007. 3. Some limited information is available on the number of profiles removed between 1995 and 2002. This is by calendar year only, and no age breakdown is available. In 2002, a management information database was created which enabled more detailed information to be captured. 4. As the data represents the number of persons whose profiles have been removed from the database, it is not necessary to apply a replication rate to the figures.

Illegal Firearms

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the age was of each individual convicted and given a minimum five-year sentence for possessing an illegal firearm in each of the last three years;
	(2)  if he will list the countries of origin of the weapons which were possessed by the individuals convicted and given a minimum five-year sentence for possessing an illegal firearm in each of the last three years; and what the estimated age was of each such weapon;
	(3)  how many individuals were convicted and given a minimum five-year sentence for possessing an illegal firearm in each of the last three years, broken down by type of crime committed.

Vernon Coaker: The minimum five year sentence applies only to persons aged 18 or over and came into force for offences committed from 22 January 2004. The available information, relating to England and Wales for the years 2004 and 2005, is shown in the tables. Information for 2006 will be available in the autumn.
	The court proceedings database does not hold data on the country of origin of weapons possessed by those convicted of possession of an illegal firearm nor the ages of such weapons as the individual circumstances surrounding offences is not centrally.
	
		
			  Table :  Persons aged 18 and over sentenced and those given custody for firearms possession offences involving mandatory 5 year term, by offence, England and Wales 
			  Offence and sentence  2004  2005 
			  Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition (Firearms Act 1968, s 5(1 )(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af), or (c))   
			 Total sentenced 686 353 
			 Given immediate custody 240 233 
			 Of which: 5 years or over 75 142 
			
			  Possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object (Firearms Act 1968, s 5(1A)(a))   
			 Total sentenced 1 — 
			 Given immediate custody 1 — 
			 Of which: 5 years or over 1 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  Persons aged 18 and over sentenced to mandatory 5 year term (or over) for possession of firearms, by age, England and Wales 
			  Age  2004  2005 
			 18 4 3 
			 19 3 7 
			 20 6 8 
			 21 4 8 
			 22 4 4 
			 23 2 9 
			 24 4 7 
			 25 8 8 
			 26 3 4 
			 27 3 9 
			 28 3 9 
			 29 3 2 
			 30 2 3 
			 31 1 4 
			 32 1 3 
			 33 2 1 
			 34 1 2 
			 35 4 7 
			 36 1 3 
			 37 — 6 
			 38 2 2 
			 39 1 4 
			 40 1 3 
			 41 4 4 
			 42 2 5 
			 43 — 2 
			 44 1 3 
			 45 1 1 
			 46 1 2 
			 47 — — 
			 48 — 2 
			 49 1 — 
			 50 — — 
			 51 1 1 
			 54 — 1 
			 56 — 1 
			 57 2 — 
			 58 — 1 
			 59 — 1 
			 61 — 1 
			 63 — — 
			 64 — 1 
			 Total 76 142 
			  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: RDS-NOMS, Home Office

Prisons: Health Services

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that people held in private prisons who claim  (a) that their health care needs are not being met and  (b) that they suffer mistreatment have access to a complaints procedure.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Prisoners held in privately-managed prisons who wish to complain about their health care provision do currently have access to a complaints process. Under the first tier of that process, a complaint should be made locally within the prison in line with the usual complaints procedure. If the complainant remains dissatisfied, it is open to him to complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. Prisoners held in privately-man aged prisons who claim to have suffered mistreatment on non-medical issue are able to complain using the usual complaints process. If, having made a complaint internally, the prisoner remains dissatisfied, it is open to him to ask the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to consider the matter.

Probation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in each of the 42 probation areas in England and Wales breached their  (a) community sentence requirements,  (b) licences and  (c) parole conditions while under the supervision of the Probation Service in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what steps were taken to remedy such breaches.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Information for England and Wales on the completion rates for the main types of community sentence, for each year since 1995, can be found in Table 5.1 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin: Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. Information on the number of offenders recalled to prison for breaching their licence conditions can be found in Tables 10.7, 10.8 and 10.9 of the same publication. The reliability of this data at local area level is not sufficiently robust for publication. Generally, compliance and rigorous enforcement are essential if community sentences and licence supervision are to provide an effective punishment and deterrent, in which the public has confidence. The latest performance figures for the National Probation Service (covering April 2006—February 2007) indicate that 92 per cent. of relevant offenders have enforcement action initiated within 10 working days as required by National Standards; in 1999 it was just 44 per cent. Since 2002-03 the service has also been measured against a compliance target, which measures the proportion of orders and licences that reach the six months stage without requiring breach action. On this basis compliance has improved from 62 per cent. in 2002-03 to 72 per cent. in 2006-07 (April 2006—February 2007).

Sentencing

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on an indefinite sentence of public protection have served longer than their tariff.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Data taken from individual case records held by the Pre-Release Section of the National Offender Management Service indicates that, as at 27 April 2007, tariff had expired in 173 cases where offenders had been sentenced to Imprisonment for Public Protection.

Iraq: Asylum

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assistance the UK is providing to  (a) Syria and  (b) Jordan for refugees who have fled sectarian violence in Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to protect refugees who have fled sectarian violence in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: We are in close touch with our partners and agencies about the situation regarding displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region.
	In January, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) launched a $60 million appeal to address the influx of refugees into Iraq's neighbouring countries and the plight of displaced people inside Iraq (this is almost fully funded). The money will go towards the provision of basic services and protection for internally displaced Iraqis and refugees, registration, and needs assessments. DFID has contributed £1.5 million to
	this appeal, part of 310 million that we have spent on humanitarian assistance in 2007.
	Inside Iraq, our support is providing urgently needed medical supplies, improved health facilities and restoring water and sanitation infrastructure.
	In April, an international UNHCR conference in Geneva was successful in drawing international attention to the plight of the displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region, and recognising the burden this places on host communities and countries. The main outcome of the conference was the Government of Iraq's commitment to take the lead in providing support and security for its citizens, including for those who have fled the country. The conference also agreed a new UN strategic framework for humanitarian action in Iraq, which will coordinate UN action in support of the Iraqi Government's efforts.

Women and Work Commission

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what progress has been made on the Government Action Plan: Implementing the Women and Work Commission recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Munn: On 2 April we launched a report setting out the comprehensive programme of action being taken forward by Government to reduce the gender pay and opportunities gap one year on from the Women and Work Commission's recommendations. This included: details of a £500,000 fund to create more quality part-time work; the development of an Equality Check Tool to allow employers to see where they could improve their practices in relation to gender equality issues. I will also continue to chair a project board of Whitehall officials to drive forward the women's economic participation agenda.

Olympic Games: Greater London

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives have been identified by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in discussions with the Olympic NI Task Force, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic games as being suitable Olympic projects for Northern Ireland; and what assessment he has made of the potential benefit of these initiatives is to Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Departments: ICT

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the  (a) originally estimated,  (b) most recently estimated and  (c) outturn cost was of each of the five largest information technology contracts agreed by his Department with outside suppliers in the last five years as referred to in the answer of 16 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 1489-90W, on Information Technology.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has one main Information Technology contract. This is a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Agreement awarded to Fujitsu Services and has been in place for more than five years. In 2005 the Department awarded a Competed Services Framework Arrangement to six suppliers to enable an element of competition for IT projects. A small number of lower value IT contracts (less than £500,000) have been awarded through this arrangement. The largest project awarded outside of the PFI Agreement during 2006-07 is shown as follows.
	
		
			  Construction Industry Statistics Service 
			   £ million 
			 Original estimate 1.6 
			 Contracted cost 1.4

Road Signs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the operating costs were of  (a) electronic messaging signs and  (b) electronic variable messaging signs in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: Operating costs for both electronic message signs and electronic variable messaging signs on the Highways Agency network are not separately identifiable. They are maintained as an integral part of traffic technology systems. Data are available for the period 2001-02 to 2006-07 is in the following table.
	
		
			   Cost (£ million) 
			 2001-02 23 
			 2002-03 40 
			 2003-04 29 
			 2004-05 20 
			 2005-06 32 
			 2006-07 32 
		
	
	The costs in the table are for maintaining all traffic technology, including electronic messaging signs, but excluding energy and technology renewal scheme costs.